Cruising through the Kochi Biennale

From Anish Kapoor's powerful Descension to the cheery Coloner Sanders dosawalla graffiti, there's plenty of art hopping to do in Kochi

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale very nearly didn’t take off this year. If it wasn’t for the determination of the artist community itself, headed by the energetic Jitish Kallat, aided by promoters of the arts like BMW, the 2014 edition would still be just an idea. So if you find yourself declaring your support by hopping on to the next flight to Kochi, here’s what to look out for.

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Anish Kapoor's Descension

A swirling vortex of water thunders within a room at the Kochi Biennale’s Aspinwall site, the sea from which it draws its principle resource stretching out in front of you. Engineers, workers and artist laboured together to pull off this mesmerising installation, which couldn’t have fit more appropriately within the biennale’s theme of Whorled Expectations.

Gigi Scaria's Chronicles of the Shores Foretold

Scaria’s larger-than-life bell dangles above the sea in Aspinwall, water sprouting from multiple holes pierced into its constitution. The work seeks its inspiration from coastal folklore, of European ships that sank off the coast due to the weight of the large bells they were carrying for the new churches being built in the new colonies.

Xu Bing's Background Story: Endless Xishan Mountain Scenery

Bing’s work is an arresting example of how the means is sometimes more important than the end. Using discarded materials, the Chinese artist plays with light and shadow to recreate classical Chinese paintings. This particular work was inspired by the works of artist Xu Ben, who lived during the era of the Ming Dynasty.

Xu Bing's Background Story: Endless Xishan Mountain Scenery

Behind the facade, the artist’s real mastery awaits discovery.

Sarnath Banerjee's Liquid History of Vasco Da Gama

At the biennale’s Pepper House site, Sarnath Banerjee makes a few key adjustments to the story of Portugal’s greatest explorer with Liquid History of Vasco Da Gama, tongue placed firmly in cheek.

Colonel Sanders, dosawalla

Often, the most engaging art exists outside the intimidating walls of a gallery. A point graffiti artist Guess Who has made quite effectively with his pop culture works that cropped up all over walls in Fort Kochi.